The memories of the August 1, 2024 Nationwide hardship protest would certainly linger for some family in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa States as 17 persons reportedly died.
The Punch Newspaper reported that one person was shot dead in Abuja and Kano, two killed in Jigawa, six others were gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.
Recall that the protest which started on Thursday morning began peacefully but took a violent turn in some cities , especially in the Northern part of Nigeria, leading to violent confrontations between the police and the protesters.
Fearing a potential escalation of the protests into chaos, many businesses, banks, shopping plazas, and some markets remained closed, exercising caution and prioritizing safety.
It was gathered that an individual in Abuja was shot dead along the Kubwa expressway.
An eyewitness, who identified herself as Ekaete, told the Punch that the man, whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, was gunned down after the protesters became violent and blocked the highway.
"I was waiting for a bus on the expressway when the protesters in their numbers blocked the highway and harassed motorists. But as they became violent, the police fired live shots, killing the young man. Everybody took off on seeing the man fall,’’ she narrated.
In Abuja, Tensions rose as protesters and police faced off at Eagles Square in the Three Arms Zone, just meters from the Presidential Villa.
A group of demonstrators gathered, singing the old national anthem and calling for an end to bad governance.
Security forces responded by firing teargas canisters, but the protesters stood firm, shouting back in defiance.
The situation escalated when Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, arrived to address the crowd, only to be drowned out by chants of "hunger dey"
Ayodele however called for calm, stating that he wasn’t attempting to shut down the protest but to encourage them to be civil.
“I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest, it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,’’ Olawande stated.
Meanwhile, there was a negative turn of events upon the minister’s exit as Security operatives intensified their efforts to disperse the protesters at around 10:30am, initially firing warning shots into the ground before escalating to toxic gas and pepper spray.
